Court told that victim of Gary Glitter seeking six-figure sum in damages

A victim of Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, is seeking around half a million pounds from the disgraced musician in damages. Glitter was convicted in 2015 for abusing the woman and two other young people between 1975 and 1980. The woman has already secured a “default judgment” in her claim against Glitter and is now seeking damages for the impact the abuse has had on her life. She has been unable to work for several decades as a result of the abuse, and her damages bid includes a claim for £20,000 per year for 40 years, although any award is likely to be reduced.

At a hearing in the High Court, it was revealed that Glitter’s abuse had a “dramatic and terrible impact” on the woman’s education, work, and personal relationships. Her lawyer stated that she has been plagued by feelings of shame and worthlessness as a result of the abuse, and that her mother was a fan of Glitter’s music, creating an imbalance of power that was exploited by the musician. Glitter did not attend the hearing nor was he represented by a lawyer, indicating a lack of engagement with the civil case.

The judge in the case, Mrs Justice Tipples, stated that a decision on the level of damages would be made in early May. She noted that the claim is for 40 years to reflect the time the woman has been out of the labor market, but emphasized that the issue is assessing the damages rather than the principle behind the claim. Richard Scorer, the victim’s lawyer, expressed disappointment in Glitter’s lack of remorse or engagement with the case, and hopes that the judge will make an award that reflects the harm caused to his client. Glitter was sentenced to 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls, with his sentence set to expire in February 2031.

Glitter was released from prison in February of last year after serving half of his fixed-term determinate sentence, but was returned to prison less than six weeks later for breaching his license conditions. He had reportedly tried to access the dark web and viewed images of children, leading to his return to HMP The Verne. Glitter has remained behind bars following a failed parole bid, and the offenses for which he was jailed in 2015 were part of Operation Yewtree, a Metropolitan Police investigation launched in the aftermath of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Despite the appalling harm caused to his victims, Glitter has shown contempt by failing to engage with the legal process and take responsibility for his actions.

The victim’s lawyer hopes that a fair and just award will be made by the judge to reflect the harm caused by Glitter’s abuse. The woman has suffered severely in various aspects of her life as a result of the abuse and has been unable to work for decades. Glitter’s lack of remorse and engagement with the legal process highlights the ongoing pain and suffering experienced by his victims. The case serves as a somber reminder of the long-lasting impact of childhood abuse and the need for justice and accountability in cases of this nature.